AS THE SUN SETS SLOWLY IN THE WEST

virgin novelist, middle school teacher for the morally handicapped, government bureaucrat, most famous unknown photographer in LA, PhD dropout, coat hanger sorter, presidential campaign worker, sewer worker, and retired guy -- but not in that order.

THIS IS THE END

Coming back to Open Salon is like walking through a school you once attended that's burned down. You know where the rooms are that you used to frequent, and there's no one there except for ghosts. You might pick up some book or other item that hasn't burned and look at it. Surely, once upon a time it was useful.

Maybe you're even standing in your favorite classroom. You remember how excited you were, learning of all of those different viewpoints from fellow students all over the world. Perhaps you remember how influential you once were. Maybe you were the class president or the prom queen. Most likely, you were some lesser exalted status, but still -- you feel that at one time you actually did make a contribution. And now what are you looking at?

The smell of smoke and destruction? The ghosts of the people who gave it their all here and who have now departed for God know what parts of the world? You are even asking yourself, "What am I doing here, now that nothing's left?"

It's all horribly sad, but we have to live in the present. It makes no difference that I no longer have a forum like OS to inform, educate, and be educated myself.

The building has burned down, and there's nothing left. At least I'll still have my memories.

Sad indeed -- but that's what happens when children play with matches. I'm gonna miss this place -- a lot -- I've devoted a substantial portion of the last four years to Our Salon, without so much as a nod from the powers that be -- save for the occasional EP.

But I can't complain -- I've met a lot of very interesting and intelligent people here, and that's a helluva lot more than I can say for most of the Internet.

Sad indeed -- but that's what happens when children play with matches. I'm gonna miss this place -- a lot -- I've devoted a substantial portion of the last four years to Our Salon, without so much as a nod from the powers that be -- save for the occasional EP.

But I can't complain -- I've met a lot of very interesting and intelligent people here, and that's a helluva lot more than I can say for most of the Internet.

Sad indeed -- but that's what happens when children play with matches. I'm gonna miss this place -- a lot -- I've devoted a substantial portion of the last four years to Our Salon, without so much as a nod from the powers that be -- save for the occasional EP.

But I can't complain -- I've met a lot of very interesting and intelligent people here, and that's a helluva lot more than I can say for most of the Internet.

And, sky, chill the frack out, dude. It's not exactly a boycott when you can't access this place for days or even weeks at a time, and when the front page hasn't changed for over a month. It's just really not worth it.

I never boycotted OS. It's more like OS boycotted me, since I couldn't access the place for around six weeks. Let's hope Jake and Joan have finally decided to give this once-promising project a second chance!